Flirting With Mermaids: The Unpredictable Life of a Sailboat Delivery Skipper

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I found this book, the more into it I read, to be very disappointing - there is little description of the storms or even of repairs made during rough crossings, and it often reads like 'I did this and then I did that" with little connection. I felt like great gobs of information was simply cut out. The photos are mostly of the author (ok, you're kinda cute Jon but I'd really rather see the yachts and deck shots), very disappointing - kept wanting to learn more about his Mother, who did sound very interesting but either the author isn't too articulate or his editor stripped out too much - there are better books available: Knox-Johnson's or Bernard Montessier's "The Long Way" - some good ones on Sydney-Hobart and Falmouth -

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I read the book in 5 days. John is as much of an author as a sailo

Rating:
Summary: Hurricane Bob Survivor
Review: I was with John on the voyage through Hurricane Bob, and am alive today as a result of his expert seamanship and calm nerves. John is as great a story teller as he is a sailor. Here's to you John, the "real" Captain Ron. A good read.

Rating:
Summary: A wild story from a windy guy !
Review: Of the three books that John has written this is the best. You can feel the excitement, love, and hate in each page. If you are a landlubber, better take some dramamine before you start reading, as the descriptions of the storms can make you seasick. The book is a love story with lots of nautical action to keep the reader's attention. The book is hard to put down, as the reader is pulled into the story with the captain and the crew.. Will John make landfall, with all his body parts? Will the boat sink and the crew vanish? The stories are so well written, that I felt that I should put on my foul weather gear. You should buy the first edition of this book, it could replace the Old Man and the Sea !

Rating:
Summary: I felt like I was present on each "Delivery/Adventure".
Review: Once I started reading I truely could not stop. The author brought out every emotion I have. He made me visulize every detail, without being too wordy. I only had to look up seven words, for thier meaning. An execellent book for anyone seeking a modern day adventure.

Rating:
Summary: What a Life!
Review: The Author, a profesional delivery captain, makes his living doing what the rest of us have to pay to do! The author has probably done more Blue Water Sailing in a few years than most serious sailors do in a lifetime. This is a great story of adventure, but it is told in a humorous tone. Adventure, romance, danger, and outrageous characters fill this book. Each story is better than the last one, and this was truly an enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: What a Life!
Review: The Author, a profesional delivery captain, makes his living doing what the rest of us have to pay to do! The author has probably done more Blue Water Sailing in a few years than most serious sailors do in a lifetime. This is a great story of adventure, but it is told in a humorous tone. Adventure, romance, danger, and outrageous characters fill this book. Each story is better than the last one, and this was truly an enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: A clever title but...
Review: The other reviews of this book suggest that John Kretschner is something of a free spirited philospher sharing his adventures with the reader. Unfortunately it comes across as more of a boastful my job is better than your job rant. The author is quite liberal when praising himself and consistently takes petty shots at members of his crew. At one point describing a fellow sailor as '...boring as his steel boat...', despite later admitting that he admires steel boats himself.
The sailing stories lack excitement. He offers no humorous anecdotes, though does mention one told to him. If you are interested hearing how he solves various mechanical problems with diesel engines, self-steering equipment and electronics then this is the book for you.
As for philosphy, there is none. This book is about a guy working in the sailing industry, delivering assorted boats, teaching navigation, selling used boats and writing magazine filler for a few bucks on the side.
Try "The Godforsaken Sea", "Fastnet: Force 10" or even "Maiden Voyage" for interesting reading about sailing.

Rating:
Summary: This one delivers
Review: This book is an excellent account of what it means to be a sailboat delivery captain. The author blends his stories together in a very clever way that causes the book to be entertaining and somewhat humorous. I would recommend it to anyone that loves to sail, whether it be offshore or cruising around the harbor.

Rating:
Summary: Enormously entertaining!
Review: This book is filled with humor and adventure, an unbeatable combination. The author displays a very engaging style and these exciting tales of sailing adventures will entertain sailors and landlubbers alike.